The Best is Yet to Come

This really was an exceptional ending to an historic State of the Union Address. I'd put it right up there with Reagan's It's Morning Again in America for tone and optimism. Would really like to know who the speech writers were for Trump's SOTU because the ending to that speech is also up there with some of JFK's best material.

HT American Digest.

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Netflix reveals its 9 government take-down requests.

- Perhaps the best graffiti ever!

- Brad Pitt set to produce Chris Cornell documentary Like a Stone.

- Heh Heh

- Democrats claim real impeachment has never been tried

- Too perfect!

- CNN excludes Tulsi Gabbard from New Hampshire Town Hall broadcasts. If I were Tulsi's campaign manager I'd try to get time on a competing network scheduled at the same time at the Town Hall's.

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Watched the State of the Union last night and boy did Trump hit a home run with that speech. I kept having two thoughts during the speech; first this speech wraps up the 2020 election it was that good. Second I kept thinking of "Give 'em Hell" Harry Truman who famously said when someone told him to "Give 'em hell" - "I don't give them hell. I just tell them the truth and they think it's hell." Well the Democrats heard many truths last night and it was certainly hell for them... Is it true that Joe Biden has never won a primary or caucus when running for President? Really?... All of New England agrees... Maybe the app the Democrats used for the Iowa Caucus was coded by Aaron Rogers' agent?... Business idea - American made surgical mask with American flag and "Made in USA" stamped in large letters. Almost all surgical masks are now made in China. I think people would be wiling to pay a little extra for ones made in the US... Wow - Tesla now more valuable than Volkswagen and BMW combined!... The Iowa Caucus is a mess but just wait for the chaos when Tulsi Gabbard finishes in the top 4 in the New Hampshire primary. The DNC won't be able to pretend she doesn't exist any more after that showing... 

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Kevin Hart really should do a live TV show on another network the same night as the Oscars just to torpedo the Oscars ratings. That would be funny... Why Netflix pricing will keep going up... This week I vow to use the phrase "Greetings my jumentous fellow" and smile while saying it. Jumentous means "smelling like horse urine" but if you smile people will think you're complementing them... Completely agree with Ben Shapiro on this... With apologies to Marshawn Lynch, any time I read "beast mode" in print - my mind reads it as "breast mode". Once I realize my mistake I wonder why there's no "breast mode". I want breast mode... Interesting look at Paramount Pictures. Makes me want to re-watch The Kid Stays in the Picture... Growing up Catholic many of the nuns I ran into explained their celibacy by saying they were "married to Jesus". I always wondered - if that's the case how do priest explain their celibacy? Are they married to Jesus too?...   

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

I'm confused - shouldn't the Democrats insist that Hillary Clinton deliver the official State of the Union response? Otherwise shouldn't they just "Move On"and stop mentioning her?... Nuclear fusion - the future of energy on Earth? Not to be confused with nuclear fission... A reminder on the wisdom of the masses - a 1967 Gallup poll found almost twice as many Americans supported nuking North Vietnam as opposed to withdrawing... Wait - can this really true? California has 34% of the welfare recipients in the US despite having just 12% of the population of the country... "Anger is a hot coal you hold in your hand waiting to throw at someone" - the Buddha.. Interesting - what happens to your body during a 29-day thru-hike... 18 years ago today - the New England Patriots hired Bill Belichick to be their head coach. And that has made all the difference...

Familiar Rhetoric, Failed Record

You could argue that the State of the Union was just the same old, same old but at least he wasn't hectoring anyone to "pass this jobs bill now." Hey - what ever happened to that? I thought that the Stimulus Junior Bill was the key to the jobs recovery? Do you mean that the speech in front of the joint Houses of Congress was just political theater?

EDIT: Wow! If you watch just one video explaining why the rhetoric doesn't match up with the facts - make it this video from the CATO Institute

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

Oscar Robertson left college 51 years ago. NCAA still making buck off him. Big O not pleased. Tell me again why these activities by the NCAA are not taxable? What does playing cards of Oscar Robertson have to do with education?... About 45 minutes into Obama's State of the Union speech I really wanted someone in the gallery to yell "Freebird!"... Not bad for one day's work - Erik Seidel won the $250,000 buy-in at the Aussie Millions beating Sam Trickett for a $2.5 million dollar payday. Seidel doesn't get near the public recognition he deserves... New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman tended bar last night in NYC. Is it me or is Cashman trying to be Theo Epstein?... I agree with Stewart Mandel - how can Kirk Ferentz be out recruiting after so many of his players were just hospitalized basically for brutality? At this point does he think people will buy the line "If your child commits to Iowa I'll take care of him?"... The things you learn on the Internet via Mental Floss: "The Steelers famous Terrible Towel is made by McArthur Towel & Sports in Wisconsin. Their president is a big Packers fan"...

State of the Union Observation

I believe Ronald Reagan started the "tradition" of having people he considered heroes in the gallery during the State of the Union. Reagan and every President since would then point out the heroes during the speech both to thank them but also to offer them up as inspiring examples of the American spirit.

Last night, if memory serves, the only person Barack Obama pointed out in the gallery was his wife Michelle. Is the message that in President Obama's mind the American people need no other examples of inspiration than Barack and Michelle? I may be reading too much into the situation but the more I think of it the more off-putting it becomes.

First State of the Union Speeches - Lyndon Johnson

With President Obama poised to deliver his first State of the Union address - it is interesting to look back at the first State of the Union addresses by other Presidents. The Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia has a compilation of speeches beginning with Lyndon Johnson's first State of the Union address.

Johnson's speech is best remember for his Civil Rights agenda and for his War on Poverty but I found this line the most telling:

Above all, we must release $11 billion of tax reduction into the private spending stream to create new jobs and new markets in every area of this land.

Above all his many legislative wants and wishes - Johnson knew that he had to first "stimulate" the economy. Not with government spending but with tax cuts to the real creators of jobs - the private citizens and the private sector. Johnson emphasizes, "We need a tax cut now to keep this country moving." If a President suggested this today he would be painted as providing "tax breaks for the rich" instead of simply acknowledging the true underpinnings of how our economy works.

Johnson sought to accomplish his aims not by increasing federal spending and involvement in every aspect of people's lives but "with an actual reduction in federal expenditures and federal employment." He wanted to insist on "a dollar's worth for a dollar spent." He wanted "a substantial reduction in federal employment.... While maintaining the full strength of our combat defenses." Tax cuts and reduced government spending? Lyndon Johnson - the forerunner of the Tea Party movement? Who knew?

Too bad that such great rhetoric was not backed up with actions. Instead Johnson's "Great Society" programs started a path of government programs and involvement in almost every aspect of American lives that we still have to deal with today. (To be fair - FDR was the real path blazer in this regard - Johnson just raised the practice to an art form.) Want a concrete example? How about this:

We must provide hospital insurance for our older citizens financed by every worker and his employer under Social Security, contributing no more than $1 a month during the employee's working career to protect him in his old age in a dignified manner without cost to the Treasury, against the devastating hardship of prolonged or repeated illness.

No more than $1 a month? Yeah right. The sprawling growth of a government program couldn't be more evident. Don't get me wrong - I'm not against Medicare or Medicaid but I am against a politician promising it will only cost the taxpayer X when in truth everyone knows the real cost will both be much more and basically forever.

State of the Union Address

You don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows. President Bush's speech tonight started off with economic matters and it wasn't until 9:39 PM EST that Iraq was raised as an individual issue. The way I see it - this bodes well for Mitt Romney and poorly for John McCain.

The economy is Romney's strong suit whereas McCain - not so much.

On the Democrats side - I think Ted Kennedy supporting Barack Obama will be viewed as a tipping point and just watching Hillary Clinton's body language makes me think its over for her. Sure the race will be close but I think Obama will generate the enthusiasm needed to carry the day on Super Tuesday.

As of the time of this writing (9:51 PM EST) - Bodog has Hillary Clinton as a 1 to 6 favorite to win the Democratic nomination (meaning you would have to risk $6 to win just $1). Barack Obama is listed as a 3 to 2 underdog (meaning you would risk $2 to win $3). I wouldn't be surprised to see the race listed as even money within the week.

Right now John McCain is a slight favorite to win the Republican nomination (20 to 21 - just about even money) while Mitt Romney is a slight underdog (5 to 4 meaning risk $4 to win $5). I would be surprised if Romney isn't a big favorite this time next week.